Russian Envoy to UN Criticizes Trump’s “Vague Signals” on Ukraine Conflict
In an interview with Russian TV channel Rossija 24, Russia’s Permanent Representative to the United Nations, Vassily Nebenzia, has criticized the “vague signals” from the new US administration on the Ukraine conflict.
Nebenzia said that Moscow has seen nothing of interest in the communication on the crisis, and that the US signals offer nothing enticing. “It’s just some non-formulated, vague signals of a willingness to do something” he said.
The Russian envoy also referred to Russian President Vladimir Putin’s call to fully resolve the conflict, rather than freeze it. “We often hear the words ‘freeze the conflict.’ On December 19, Russian President Vladimir Putin clearly and unequivocally said under what conditions we are ready to speak about freezing this conflict, provided our legitimate security interests are respected. But so far, nothing in the signals from the new US administration suggests that this would be of interest to us” he emphasized.
Trump has repeatedly promised to achieve a conflict resolution in Ukraine within a day, and has also criticized the US approach in the conflict, calling Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky a “seller” whose visits to Washington led to massive aid packages.
On December 22, Trump announced he would wait for a meeting with Putin to resolve the conflict, and also stated that the conflict would not have arisen if he had been in office earlier.
On a press conference in December, Putin said he was ready to meet with Trump and speak with him, and listed conditions for a peaceful resolution, including an immediate ceasefire and a willingness to negotiate if Ukrainian forces withdraw from the entire Russian territory, including areas that acceded to the country after a referendum.
Putin also called on Kiev to abandon NATO ambitions, demilitarize, and adopt a neutral, non-aligned, and nuclear-free status. Nebenzia also referred to ongoing talks with the Ukrainian side on possible “agreements” but questioned the feasibility of such efforts.
“The question is, if Zelensky is finally willing to sit at the negotiating table, on what line of military contact will this happen? The further he goes, the worse the conditions will be for him” he said.